MULTI DIRECTION SWITCH
A multi direction switch (100) includes a first cover (2), a second cover (3), a printed circuit board (PCB) (4) positioned between the first cover and the second cover, a pair of stacked, orthogonal electrode plates (5) positioned between the second cover and the PCB, a spring member (7) positioned between the first cover and the PCB, and a button (6) for actuating the electrode plates to move on the PCB. The second cover forms a protrusion (21), the button has a radial portion (611) and a wall portion (612) extending downwardly from the radial portion, and the spring member is positioned between the protrusion and the wall portion.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a multi direction switch capable of outputting different signals denoting multi positions, and more particularly to a multi direction switch which includes a specially designed and positioned spring member.
2. Description of Related Arts
A multi direction switch is widely used in an electronic appliance for denoting multi positions when the electronic appliance is in use. Japanese Patent Pub. No. 2011-233435 discloses a conventional multi direction switch. The multi direction switch has a button for actuating two electrode plates thereof and a helical spring member for returning the button to its initial position. The multi direction switch is divided into two stacked upper and lower cavities by forming a block portion between a top cover and a bottom cover. The resilient spring member is positioned in the upper cavity above the block portion. The two electrode plates are positioned in the lower cavity below the block portion. The button comprises an operation portion extending out of the top cover, a widened radial portion in the upper cavity, and a narrowed actuating portion in the lower cavity. Therefore, the two electrode plates are actuated by the actuating portion to move on a printed circuit board along different directions for generating different signals. The radial portion extends inside the spring member for deflecting the spring member. Both the top cover and the block portion have ribs for confining the spring member. A gap is defined between the top cover rib and the block portion rib so that the widened radial portion can extend into and interact with the spring member.
An improved multi direction switch having a simple structure is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi direction switch having a simple structure.
To achieve the above object, a multi direction switch includes a first cover, and a second cover, a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned between the first cover and the second cover, a pair of stacked, orthogonal electrode plates positioned between the second cover and the PCB, a spring member positioned between the first cover and the PCB, and a button actuating the electrode plates to move on the PCB. The second cover forms a protrusion, the button has a radial portion and a wall portion extending downwardly from the radial portion, and the spring member is positioned between the protrusion and the wall portion.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
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Because the spring member 7 of the present invention is sandwiched between the protrusion 21 of the bottom cover 2 and the wall portion 612 of the button 6 along the plane direction, i.e., the spring member 7 is just simply oriented by two components (the bottom cover 2 and the button 6) of the multi direction switch 100, the multi direction switch 100 has a simple structure and is easily assembled.
While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as described in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A multi direction switch comprising:
- a first cover and a second cover;
- a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned between the first cover and the second cover, a first cavity being defined between the first cover and the PCB and a second cavity being defined between the second cover and the PCB;
- a pair of stacked, orthogonal electrode plates positioned in the second cavity;
- a spring member positioned in the first cavity; and
- a button for actuating the electrode plates to move on the PCB;
- wherein the second cover has a protrusion, the button has a radial portion and a wall portion extending downwardly from the radial portion, and the spring member is positioned between the protrusion and the wall portion.
2. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring member is a discoid spring member.
3. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring member is compressed by the wall portion to have elasticity when the button is operated and moves along multi directions.
4. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring member has an internal margin connecting with the protrusion and an external margin connecting with the wall portion.
5. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the button comprises an operation portion, a disc portion consisting of the radial portion and the wall portion, and an actuating portion between the operation portion and the disc portion, and wherein the actuate portion has a diameter smaller than that of the disc portion.
6. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 5, wherein the disc portion is positioned in the first cavity and the actuating portion is positioned in the second cavity.
7. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cover defines a cutout, the PCB defines a through hole, and the protrusion of the first cover is located below the cutout and the through hole.
8. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a dustproof cover attached to the second cover and jacketed on the button.
9. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cover is a bottom cover, the first cover is a top cover, and the protrusion is formed on the bottom cover and the button extends through the top cover.
10. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a retaining plate having a pair of wing portions, and wherein the electrode plates comprise a lower electrode plate having plural ribs engaged with the wing portions.
11. The multi direction switch as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electrode plates comprise an upper electrode plate positioned between the retaining plate and the lower electrode plate.
12. The multi-direction switch comprising:
- opposite first and second covers;
- a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned between the first cover and the second cover, a first cavity being defined between the first cover and the PCB and a second cavity being defined between the second cover and the PCB;
- a spring member positioned in the first cavity;
- a pair of intersected electrode plates positioned in the second cavity; and
- a button linked at an intersected position of the electrode plates to horizontally move the electrode plates on the PCB, and essentially constantly engaging the spring for restoration consideration.
13. The multi-direction switch as claimed in claim 12, wherein the printed circuit board defines a throug hole, and a portion of button extends through said through hole.
14. The multi-direction switch as claimed in claim 12, wherein the button includes an operation portion extending beyond the second cover to be exposed to an exterior.
15. The multi-direction switch as claimed in claim 12, wherein the button defines a wall portion surrounding the spring and compressing the spring during moving.
16. The multi-direction switch as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first cover defines around a center a protrusion against which the spring abuts to form a compression force when the spring is urged inwardly by the wall portion of the button.
17. A multi-direction switch comprising:
- opposite first and second covers defining a receiving cavity therebetween;
- a printed circuit board (PCB), a coil spring member and a pair of intersected electrode plates commonly received in the receiving cavity at different levels along an axial direction; and
- a button linked at an intersected position of the electrode plates to horizontally move the electrode plates on the PCB for electrical transmission consideration, and essentially constantly engaging the spring for mechanical restoration consideration; wherein
- said button includes a wall portion surrounding the coil spring member so as to urge the coil spring inside to be compressed when the button is horizontally moved.
18. The multi-direction switch as claimed in claim 17, wherein an stationary protrusion is located at a center of the coil spring member so as to function as a stopper for resist inward compression of the spring member when the button is horizontally moved.
19. The multi-direction switch as claimed in claim 17, wherein the button includes an operation portion exposed to an exterior for manual operation, and the operation portion is closer to the electrode plate than to the spring.
20. The multi-direction switch as claimed in claim 19, wherein the printed circuit board defines a through hole through which the wall portion extends.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 27, 2014
Patent Grant number: 9245698
Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. (New Taipei)
Inventors: YUSHO NAKASE (Yokohama), JIAN-JIN LU (Shenzhen), LIANG SUN (Shenzhen)
Application Number: 13/974,050
International Classification: H01H 3/38 (20060101);